Overview

ZEEKR is a relatively new brand to these shores, and like many other Chinese entrants, is one parented by the Geely conglomerate which also overseas Lotus, Lynk & Co, Polestar, Smart, Volvo, and others.

The Zeekr X tested here is closely related to the Smart #1 and #3, Polestar 4, and the Volvo EX30, and is offered locally in a choice of rear- and all-wheel drive format. The model offers modern styling, a classy interior, and generous levels of technology, and is priced from $56,900 plus on-road costs – or $64,900 for the variant tested.

Driveline choices see the Zeekr X equipped with a single 200kW/343Nm motor in RWD form and twin motors offering 315kW/543Nm in the case of the AWD.

Zeekr quotes a 0-100km/h time of 3.8 seconds in AWD format, the X duo equipped with a 66kWh lithium-ion battery allowing a claimed driving range of 540km (NEDC) in RWD format and 470km (NEDC) for the AWD.

Built on a 400V electrical system, both Zeekr X variants will charge from 10 to 80 per cent in about 30 minutes on 150kW DC power, while an at-home charge to 100 per cent is an overnight affair at 11.5 hours for the RWD (7kW) and 7.5 hours for the AWD (if using a three-phase 11kW charger).

The generously equipped Zeekr X is offered as standard with 19-inch alloy wheels, two-tone paint, a panoramic glass roof, six-way powered driver seat adjustment, keyless entry and start, powered tailgate, dual-zone climate control, an 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster, 14.6-inch infotainment array, wireless Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality, and over-the-air (OTA) software upgrade capability.

Moving up to the AWD we find 20-inch alloy wheels, external B-pillar display (a small touchscreen on the outside of the car that allows it to be unlocked through facial recognition or a PIN code), six-way powered passenger seat adjustment, front seat heating, ventilation and four-way lumbar support, driver seat memory, a heated steering wheel, 24.3-inch head-up display, LED ambient lighting, and a 13-speaker Yamaha surround-sound audio bundle.

The model on test also included Zeekr’s Interior Colour Package ($500) with Midnight Blue and Polar White leatherette upholstery and trim.

With a 100mm longer wheelbase than the Volvo EX30, the Zeekr X offers more legroom and 362 litres of luggage space with the rear seats in place – or 44 litres more than the EX30. Laying the split-fold rear seats flat, the Zeekr X offers up to 904 litres of cargo carrying capacity.

There is no spare wheel available.

On the safety front, the Zeekr X received a solid five-star ANCAP safety rating and comes with a 360-degree camera system, adaptive cruise control, auto high beam, automated parking assistance, autonomous emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, door open warning, driver monitoring, front and rear cross-traffic assist, lane departure and keeping assistance, rear collision warning, seven airbags, traffic sign recognition, and tyre pressure monitoring.

Perhaps worryingly, the Zeekr X is also equipped with a Digital Video Recorder that films your driving when it believes the car to be in danger – or when you accelerate, brake, or corner with a little too much enthusiasm. Word to the wise, the system is easily provoked and offers little to no information on where and how your data is stored, or how it might be used (against you).

Zeekr backs the X range with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty and eight years/160,000km of high-voltage battery cover. Five years’ roadside assistance and connected services subscription is likewise included.

Service intervals are set at two years or 40,000km (whichever comes first) and priced at $690 per visit.

Driving Impressions

Like a lot of BEVs, the Zeekr X is a weighty vehicle (1960kg kerb) that can feel rather podgy when pushed. While brisk, it is evident the ‘X’ suffers in sharper cornering where its weight becomes a liability, resisting the ability to change direction rapidly, and posing a significant impost on ride quality.

On poorly surface roads in particular, the Zeekr X feels challenged by multiple inputs, becoming easily unsettled and endlessly restless. The all-independent suspension arrangement is fidgety and at times noisy, exacerbating the creaking and movement from the frameless side-door windows.

Perhaps, like other Chinese entrants, Zeekr would do well to tune the ride and handling of the X for local conditions and give the model the comfort and roadholding it deserves.

Away from the chassis we find a hushed cabin whose comfortable seating and excellent visibility ensures pleasant travels when smoother surfacing allows. Around town, the Zeekr X is particularly impressive, easily maintaining pace with fast-flowing traffic while at the same time feeling centred on the driver.

Acceleration is wonderfully progressive, instilling a sense of connection with the driveline many BEVs lack. Equally, the Zeekr X’s braking is well-modulated and smooth, delivering the kind of stopping performance a hefty mid-sizer requires – and with the pedal finesse Australian drivers prefer.

Impressively, the Zeekr X also delivers sweetly accurate steering with balanced turn-in response and congruous weighting. We preferred the Normal (median) setting over the available Light or Sport modes, even adapting to the ‘squircle’ shaped steering wheel and its unmarked controls after a day or two in the captain’s seat.

We were, however, less enamoured by the Zeekr’s driver assistance systems.

While the adaptive cruise control was hard to fault on a well-marked highway, the lane keeping aids appeared to struggle on roads with only a centre line to reference – and were completely at sea when there were no lines present at all. On rural roads, where a narrow strip of asphalt must be shared when passing, it was one of a handful of vehicles we have found to encroach on dangerous – ironically in the pursuit of safety.

As with the ride and handling balance, this is a critical area Zeekr’s engineers must work on to localise, understanding that conditions in markets across the globe are perhaps in no way as ‘ideal’ as those back home.

In terms of range, we found the Zeekr X AWD to perform well below the manufacturer’s claim, averaging 20.1kWh per 100km on our 250km test loop. A quick calculation reveals a full-charge driving distance just shy of 320km – or 150km less than advertised.

With as much potential as the ‘X’ appears to offer, it is disappointing that it’s far from being a brilliant match to Australian conditions. With some fine-tuning of its chassis and ADAS technologies (and perhaps a little extra range), the car could be an outstanding contender in an otherwise predictable segment.

Let’s just hope Zeekr gives the X the update it deserves – and soon.